What is ActionScript?
Category: Programming | Posted date: 2023-04-10 18:38:32 | Posted by: Admin
What is ActionScript?
ActionScript, an object-oriented programming language for Adobe Flash player, also known as Adobe Animate CC, is used by programmers to create animations and video games. In this lesson, we'll look at ActionScript's principles. Originally used on web pages as embedded SWF files, ActionScript is primarily utilized for the development of websites and software aimed at the Adobe Flash platform.
For the creation of desktop and mobile applications, ActionScript 3 is also used with the Adobe AIR system. The language itself is open-source in the sense that its specification is freely available[3] and that both an open-source virtual machine (Tamarin) and an open-source compiler (as part of Apache Flex) are accessible.
History of Action Script
Macromedia, the firm that produced Macromedia Flash, the multimedia software platform that could be used to create interactive video games and applications, is the original developer of ActionScript. Macromedia was acquired by Adobe in 2005, after which Macromedia Flash became known as Adobe Flash. The ActionScript programming language was included in the developer component of Flash Professional, which also featured a run-time component called the Flash player. Developers created interactive animations with moving visuals that allowed users to interact with them using the ActionScript programming language. The most recent version of the programming language is ActionScript 3.0, and Adobe Flash Professional is now referred to as Animate.
Features of ActionScript
- The formal class declaration is used to create classes.
- To establish inheritance, use the extends keyword.
- Creating Java-style interfaces with the interface statement (i.e., abstract data types).
- With the implements keyword, classes offer interface implementations.
- As is the recognized file extension for class files.
- Classes used to be able to be defined in timeline code or external.as files.
- Classes must now be defined in external class files in order to use Action Script 2.0.
- The class body's explicit method-definition syntax for defining instance methods and class methods.
- Syntax for getter and setter methods.
- A class body's formal property-definition syntax for defining instance and class properties.
- The private and public keywords are used to restrict access to certain methods and attributes within a class.
- Static typing is used to declare the data type for each item, including variables, attributes, arguments, and return values.
- This eliminates casual mistakes brought on by applying incorrect facts to the incorrect circumstance. When utilizing static typing, typecasting was once used to instruct the compiler to treat an object as though it were an instance of a different data type.
- Classpaths are used to specify where one or more central class repositories are located.
- This makes it possible to reuse classes between projects and makes it simpler to organize source files. Throw and try/catch/finally statements, which are used to create and address program mistakes, are examples of exception handling.
- The symbol Linkage attributes make it simple to link movie clip symbols to ActionScript 2.0 classes.
ActionScript Versions:
- 2000–2004: ActionScript 1.0 - The "actions" from Flash 4 were improved once more and given the name "ActionScript" with the release of Flash 5 in September 2000. This was the first iteration of ActionScript to incorporate JavaScript and the ECMA-262 (Third Edition) standard influences, and it supported the standard's object model and many of its core data types. With the var statement, local variables can be declared. User-defined functions with parameter passing and return values can also be written. Significantly, ActionScript could now be composed by typing it directly in a text editor as opposed to selecting actions from drop-down menus and dialog box controls.
- 2003–2006: ActionScript 2.0 - The next big update to the language, ActionScript 2.0, was also made available in September 2003 with the introduction of Flash MX 2004 and Flash Player 7. In response to user demand, for a language better suited for larger and more complex applications, ActionScript 2.0 included compile-time type checking and class-based syntax, including the words class and extends. Even while this allowed for a more organized object-oriented programming style, the code would still be compiled to ActionScript 1.0 bytecode, allowing it to be accessible on the older Flash Player 6 as well.
- 2006–2020: ActionScript 3.0 - ActionScript 3.0 made its debut with Adobe Flex 2.0 and Flash Player 9 in June 2006. The language was fundamentally restructured in ActionScript 3.0, to the point where it now makes use of a whole distinct virtual machine. Flash Player 9 has two virtual machines: AVM1 for ActionScript 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 code, and AVM2 for ActionScript 3.0 content. Limited hardware acceleration support was added in ActionScript 3.0. (DirectX, OpenGL).
Final Thought
ActionScript's first intended market was simple, two-dimensional vector animations made in Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash). Early Flash material had a heavy emphasis on animation, very few interactive features, and very limited scripting capabilities. Later versions added capabilities that made it feasible to create sophisticated web apps that could stream media and create web-based games (such as video and audio). With the help of Adobe AIR, ActionScript is now suitable for desktop and mobile programming and is utilized in several database applications and basic robotics, such as Create Controller Kit.
